Kazim Ali was born in the UK to Muslim parents of South Asian and Middle Eastern descent. His books include four volumes of poetry, The Far Mosque, The Fortieth Day, the mixed genre Bright Felon: Autobiography and Cities and Sky Ward. He has also published two novels Quinn’s Passage and The Disappearance of Seth, two collections of essays, Orange Alert: Essays on Poetry, Art and the Architecture of Silence and Fasting for Ramadan: Notes from a Spiritual Practice as well as translations of poetry by Sohrab Sepehri and a novel by Marguerite Duras. Recently he edited the essay collection Jean Valentine: This-World Company. In addition to being associate professor of Creative Writing and Comparative Literature at Oberlin College and founding editor of Nightboat Books he teaches in the Stonecoast MFA program and is a certified Jivamukti Yoga instructor.

Rebecca Brown is the author of twelve books of prose including American Romances, The Gifts of the Body, Annie Oakley’s Girl, The Last Time I Saw You and The Dogs: A Modern Bestiary.  Her play “The Toaster”, commissioned by New City Theater, premiered at On the Boards.  She wrote libretto for “The Onion Twins,” a dance opera produced by Better Biscuit Dance.  An adaptation of The Terrible Girls was presented by About Face Theater (Chicago).  Her altered books have been exhibited in the USA and Canada. Her installation GOD MOTHER COUNTRY AND ROCK N ROLL was recently exhibited at the Frye Art Museum. She teaches at MFA programs in writing at Goddard College in Vermont and the University of Washington at Bothell.